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[1/5] A man takes a picture of the vehicle transporting Brazilian soccer legend Pele's body, at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, January 2, 2023. "The expectation is huge, the whole world will be here," said local fan Roberto Santos. He was the creator of Brazilian soccer," said fan Antonio da Paz, waiting outside the stadium for the memorial set to begin at 10 a.m. (1300 GMT). Several authorities are expected to attend the memorial, including newly sworn-in Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin - a longtime Santos supporter - and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "I'll be here all day, 24 hours, from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m.," fan Roberto Santos said.

☆ Brazil markets tumble on Lula's first full day in office
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Anthony Boadle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Haddad, who is seeking to dispel market fears that he might not maintain fiscal discipline, took office on Monday, pledging to control spending. "The policies remind us of Dilma Rousseff's government rather than Lula's," Gracia said, referring to Lula's handpicked successor, who was impeached while in office. Allies said Lula's newfound social conscience was the result of his 580 days in prison, Reuters reported on Sunday. Lula kicks off his third presidential term after persuading Congress to pass a one-year, 170 billion-reais increased social spending package, in line with his campaign promises. Lula spent his first day in office meeting with more than a dozen heads of state who attended his inauguration.

☆ Brazil acting president hits out at 'silent' Bolsonaro in New Year speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Brazil's acting president, Hamilton Mourao, on Saturday criticized outgoing far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro for allowing anti-democratic sentiment to thrive in the wake of this year's election, in a veiled dig in a New Year speech. Vice president under Bolsonaro, Mourao delivered the New Year speech after taking over on Friday, when the outgoing president flew to Florida to avoid handing over the presidential sash to leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at his Jan. 1 inauguration. Bolsonaro's exit follows weeks of near silence following his defeat in Brazil's most fraught election in a generation. Mourao was elected in 2018 as Bolsonaro's running mate but was ditched in this year's election, with the outgoing president choosing former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto to join his defeated ticket. Mourao instead ran for Senate and secured a spot in the upper house of Congress representing the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Jailed for graft in 2018 - the year right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro was elected - Lula's convictions were overturned in 2019, allowing him to oust Bolsonaro in October's election. The more ideological Lula who emerged from jail in 2019 should not be a cause for concern, friends and allies said. Lula's spokesman Jose Chrispiniano said the president supported fiscal responsibility and believes that strengthening the economy is the best way to combat poverty. "Good morning, President Lula," his devotees would chant as the day began, followed by "Good night, President Lula," as he went to bed. From his 15-square-meter cell on the third floor of the Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba, Lula set about reorganizing the PT and managing his legal defense.

☆ Casino's GPA prepares to spin off Colombian supermarket operator Exito
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer GPA (PCAR3.SA) said on Friday it had taken the first steps towards spinning off its Colombian subsidiary Almacenes Exito SA (IMI.CN) and plans to distribute its shares to existing shareholders. In a securities filing, GPA said Exito had applied to be a publicly-held company in Brazil and list Brazilian Depositary Receipts (BDRs) on the Sao Paulo stock exchange. Exito also plans to list American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in New York. Exito, which operates supermarkets and shopping malls in South America, has market value of some $925 million, according to Refinitiv data. Following the spin-off, GPA will retain a 13% stake in Exito, down from its current holding of nearly 97%.

☆ Brazil's Lula calls for peace at meetings with Russia, Ukraine representatives
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met on Saturday with representatives of Russia and Ukraine ahead of his inauguration and called for an end to the war between the two countries. Lula, who will be sworn in on Sunday, said on Twitter he had separately met with the speaker of Russia's Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, and Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The two were in Brazil to represent their countries at Lula's inauguration and met both him and his future foreign relations minister, Mauro Vieira, according to pictures shared by the leftist leader. Lula said he told Matvienko that Brazil wishes for "peace and for the parties to find common ground to end the conflict," which began when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 6 climate wins from 2022 that are worth celebrating
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Sweeping climate legislation passed, climate candidates won, and animals got important protections. Here are six of the year's highlights in climate progress, according to experts. But through it all, there was encouraging progress on climate that's worth celebrating. Peter B. de Menocal, president of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told Insider that the event featured the first-ever Ocean Pavilion. "I want to invite other Indigenous communities in Ecuador and the world to join these collective fights happening in Amazonia," Lucitante previously told Insider.

WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC.N), one of the nation's largest drug distributors, of helping ignite the nation's deadly opioid epidemic by failing to report hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders of prescription painkillers. The government said AmerisourceBergen had since 2014 systematically refused or negligently failed to flag suspicious orders by pharmacy customers when it had reason to know that opioids were being diverted to illegal channels. "For years, AmerisourceBergen prioritized profits over its legal obligations and over Americans' well-being," Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta told reporters. In a statement, AmerisourceBergen called the lawsuit an improper attempt to "shift blame" and the burdens of law enforcement from the Justice Department and DEA to the companies they regulate. The Justice Department said AmerisourceBergen for years understaffed and unfunded programs designed to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act.

☆ From Obama to Neymar, Tributes to Pelé Pour In From Across the Globe
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Samantha Pearson | Luciana Magalhaes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SÃO PAULO—World leaders and some of the biggest names in soccer paid tribute to Pelé , who rose from poverty to become a global ambassador for what he called “the beautiful game.” The 82-year-old died Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Here in his homeland of Brazil, tearful fans were glued to their TVs, reliving the best goals of the man who is lovingly known here as “the King.” Others took to the streets in the coastal city of Santos, where Pelé played for much of his career and where he will be buried.

☆ Pelé, Global Soccer Star Who Led Brazil to Three World Cup Wins, Dies at 82
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pelé, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time and a three-time World Cup winner with Brazil, died on Thursday in São Paulo of multiple organ failure due to colon cancer, according to the Albert Einstein Hospital, where he was being treated. During a 22-year professional career that set new standards for goal scoring and individual virtuosity, Pelé came to redefine the meaning of global sports celebrity and established Brazil as the supreme power of the world’s most popular game. He spent most of that time with his boyhood club in Brazil, Santos, before a high-profile move to the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in 1975, a disco-era experiment that created a brief surge of passion for the sport in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Jamie Raskin, a Democratic U.S. lawmaker who rose to prominence as he oversaw former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the House of Representatives, has been diagnosed with cancer, he said on Wednesday. "After several days of tests, I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a serious but curable form of cancer," Raskin, 60, said in a statement released by his office. Raskin has also served on the January 6 Committee, which investigated the Capitol attack and Trump's role in it. In the next Congress, Raskin is set to serve as the top Democrat on the House Oversight panel. Raskin told MSNBC during an interview later on Wednesday that the chemotherapy treatments were scheduled to begin this week.

☆ Brazil's BRF signs $111 million leniency deal after graft accusations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Brazilian food processor BRF SA (BRFS3.SA) on Wednesday signed a leniency agreement with local authorities over payments it must make to the South American country's government following accusations of graft. The deal with Brazil's attorney general (AGU) and comptroller general (CGU) offices requires BRF to pay around 584 million reais ($111 million) to the government, the CGU said, citing accusations that company employees paid public officials to gain "undue advantages" following federal police investigations. BRF said in a filing the payments will be made in five annual installments, starting next June 30. In a separate statement, BRF said it "understands that signing this leniency agreement puts an end to discussions regarding the past issue," adding that it does not condone illegal activity or improper conduct. Shares in BRF closed on Wednesday up nearly 8% at 7.76 reais, while the broader Bovespa Index rose 1.53%.

☆ Brazil's haunting graveyard of ships risks environmental disaster, warns activist group
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Pilar Olivares | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brazil's navy said the 200-meter-long (660-ft.) Sao Luiz, a rust-spattered bulk carrier built in 1994, had been anchored in the bay for more than six years awaiting legal proceedings before it crashed into Latin America's longest over-water bridge. The Sao Luiz is one of dozens of ships left to rust on the iconic but heavily polluted bay, once home to vast mangroves and thriving marine life. Fernando Pinto Lima, a 62-year-old former fisherman in the bay, told Reuters he used to be able to quickly catch 50 to 100 kilograms of fish. Following the Sao Luiz crash, local media reported that authorities were studying how to remove the ghost ships. ($1 = 5.2186 reais)Reporting by Pilar Olivares; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pele or Maradona? Debate will continue raging over who was greater
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Soccer legends Diego Maradona and Pele rest on a hammock during a reception in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 14, 1995. Pele thought Maradona was gauche and undignified and Maradona thought Pele was a sell-out. Pele was happy to counsel the budding star, and Maradona excited to be fulfilling his dream of meeting the Brazilian. But their relationship soured in 1982 after Pele criticized Maradona when he was sent off for stamping on a Brazilian in a World Cup tie in Spain. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, eclipsed by Messi at the Qatar World Cup, was more expansive, calling the Brazilian "King Pele" and an inspiration to millions.

☆ Pelé, Brazilian soccer star and only player to win the World Cup three times, dies at age 82
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Michele Luhn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Pelé, the Brazilian soccer icon who brought the World Cup trophy to his home country three times, becoming an international superstar and the highest-paid team athlete in the world at the time, has died. Pelé joined the Santos Football Club in Brazil in 1956 at age 15 as an inside forward. The club won the São Paulo league championships and, in 1962 and 1963, both the Libertadores Cup and the Intercontinental Club Cup. Brazil lost in the first round at the next World Cup, in 1966, after Pelé and others suffered injuries. Pelé closed out his World Cup career netting 12 goals in 14 games and remains the only soccer player to win the trophy three times.

SAO PAULO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Pele, the legendary Brazilian soccer player who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history, died on Thursday at the age of 82. The death of the only man to win the World Cup three times as a player was confirmed on his Instagram account. [1/4] Legendary Brazilian soccer player Pele waves to the spectators before the start of the under-17 boys' final soccer match of the Subroto Cup tournament at Ambedkar stadium in New Delhi, India, October 16, 2015. Brazil's CBF soccer federation said Pele "gave us a new Brazil and we can only thank him for his legacy." Kylian Mbappé, the French star many view as the current best soccer player in the world, offered his condolences.

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Jamie Raskin, a Democratic U.S. representative who rose to prominence as the lead manager for former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, has been diagnosed with cancer, he said on Wednesday. "After several days of tests, I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a serious but curable form of cancer," Raskin said in an official statement. Raskin has also served on the January 6 Committee, which investigated the Capitol attack and Trump's role in it. In the next Congress, Raskin is set to serve as the top Democrat on the House Oversight panel. Reporting by Gram Slattery in Washington Editing by Caitlin Webber and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Anne Donnelly, the district attorney for Nassau County, said the allegations that have surfaced in recent days regarding Santos were serious. "The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning," Donnelly, a Republican, said in a statement. But reporting by the New York Times and other media outlets in recent weeks called into question almost every element of Santos' life story. Among other claims, Santos said he had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite neither institution having any record of him attending. In recent days, Santos has apologized for "embellishing" his resume, while defending aspects of the way he had represented himself.

☆ Latam M&A expected to recover in 2023, IPOs may take longer
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAO PAULO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - After a sharp drop in Latin American deals in 2022, bankers expect a slow recovery next year, led by M&A. The volume of M&A deals in Latin America fell 35% this year, to $86 billion, according to Refinitiv data. Bankers predict M&A volumes will grow up to 20% in the region next year as Latin America becomes more relevant among emerging markets. Latin America has a great opportunity to increase its share among emerging markets, said Latam M&A co-head at Citigroup Nicolas Roca. Share offerings fell 61% in Latin America this year to $13.4 billion, according to Refinitiv data through December 26.

☆ Angolan court orders seizure of dos Santos's assets - Lusa news agency
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dos Santos has faced corruption accusations for years. In 2019, Angola's Supreme Court ordered the seizure of her assets for allegedly steering state funds to companies in which she held stakes during her father's presidency, including oil giant Sonangol. Dos Santos's father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, died in July. A spokesperson for dos Santos did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The order comes after global police agency Interpol issued a red notice for dos Santos last month, asking global law enforcement authorities to locate and provisionally arrest her.

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed a $1.66 trillion government funding bill that provides record military funding and sends emergency aid to Ukraine, hours before a midnight deadline. "The bipartisan funding bill advances key priorities for our country and caps off a year of historic bipartisan progress for the American people," Biden said. While some of the work was done in a bipartisan manner, that was not the case with Friday's $1.66 trillion funding bill, opposed by House Republican conservatives and some Senate conservatives. They have threatened to oppose any legislation introduced by any of the Senate Republicans who supported the bill. [1/4] The U.S. Capitol is seen as Congress continues work on passing a $1.66 trillion government funding bill in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022.

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowRIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Caio Paes de Andrade, the chief executive of Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras (PETR4.SA), has decided to resign before his term ends in April, but has not yet set a date for his departure, six sources told Reuters. Andrade's early exit would provide a pathway for leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to quickly install his own choice to lead the company. Lula, a leftist former president, takes office on Jan. 1. Prates has previously said the incoming government will not have an interventionist stance on Petrobras. Petrobras had previously said Andrade had accepted an invitation from future Sao Paulo state Governor Tarcisio Freitas to join his team.

☆ World Bank to lend $500 million to help Brazil meet climate goals
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Steven Grattan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The initiative, in collaboration with Brazilian state-controlled lender Banco do Brasil, adopts an approach to lending linked to sustainability to help Brazil meet its climate goals and deliver "robust" mitigation benefits, a bank statement said. At the start of December, the World Bank and its partners launched a global tracking system to clean up the opaque market for carbon credits and help developing countries raise much-needed climate finance quickly and more cheaply. "Up to 90 million tCO2e in emission reductions are expected by 2030, the equivalent to about 4.5% of what Brazil needs to stay on track with its net-zero commitments," the World Bank said. "Brazil has significant potential to become a global leader in the transition to a low-carbon economy", said Johannes Zutt, World Bank country director for Brazil. Banco do Brasil will be able to offer its clients packages that integrate financing with support to access carbon markets through a “one-stop shop”, as the World Bank explained it.

☆ These photos show the many ways Christmas is celebrated around the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Natalie Tham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In a yearly series, CNBC Travel highlights diverse Christmas celebrations around the world. The Gavle goat is moving to a new location this year for the first time in 56 years, according to Visit Gavle, the city's visitor's guide. "He means a lot for us in Gavle, and he's a big part of the Christmas spirit," she said. Teachers, students and parents hold Christmas lanterns made from recycled materials during a campaign for sustainable Christmas celebrations at an elementary school in Quezon City, Philippines. "If I'm in Brazil during Christmas, I take my nephew and niece to a Christmas parade, and we have a blast!

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